Collapsible toilet article



Sept. v, 1931. k. F. Homo. E1- A-L 2,092,212

COLLAPS IBLE TOILET ARTICLE Filed April 27, 1936 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT GFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TOILET ARTICLE Kingsley F. Horton and Lyman F. Higbee, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application April 27, 1936, Serial No. A"16,648 Claims. v (C1. 15-184) AThis invention relates to a collapsible toilet article such as a tooth brush or the like, wherein a case for the toilet implement is adapted to func-lv is mounted in the case, extends a considerable distance outwardly beyond the case so as to form a handle of suieient length to enable the luser to obtain a rm finger grip thereon whereby the brush may be readily removed from the case. Such attachment members are not only unsightly but also add to the overall length of the assembled parts to such an extent as to often render the article 'too large to be carried in a small purse or pocket, or to necessitate the use of a miniature brush orimplement. The main object of this invention is to overcome the above mentioned objection by providing a collapsible tooth brush or similar implement having a removable case or holder therefor with an attachment member for frictionally holding the brush or implement in the case that is simple 3 in construction and operation and which, when assembled with the case or holder, will extend but a relatively short distance beyond the case, thereby producing an article which is very compact to enable the same to be easily carried in a small purse or pocket and at the same time be attractive in appearance.

In carrying outthe above mentioned objects, we have provided a novel friction attachment member or head which, when assembled 'with a 40 brush or other implement in a, suitable case or holder will extend only slightly outwardly beyond said case. This attachment head is provided with a cam surface which is so related to the open end portion of the case that when a relatively slight lateral pressure is exerted upon the exposed portion of the attachment head, said cam surface will effect release of the frictional engagement of the head with the case and produce an initial outward movement of the head and brush relative to the case. The head and brush may thereafter be readily removed from the'case by using the increased exposed portion of the head as a handle.

'I'hese and other objects and advantages pertaining to the invention will more readily be understood from the followingvdescription taken in 'connection with the accompanying drawing in which: l

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a collapsible toothbrush` embodying the various 5 features of this invention with the parts thereof in the assembled position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing the parts thereof in disassembled relation.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device vshown in Figure 1 with the brush and holder shown in the extended relation ready for use.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the case or handle with the tooth brush 15 mounted therein.

' Figure 5 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 isy a, perspective viewillustrating the 20 initial step taken in effecting the release of the tooth brush or other implement from the case or holder.

In the structure shown in the drawing we have 25 illustrated a tooth brush l comprising a substantially rectangular body portion or back member 2 and a reduced shank portion 3. The body portion is provided with bristles 4 secured thereto in any suitable manner to extend outwardly from one side thereof. The opposite side 2 of the body member is slightly curved longitudinally from the central portion inwardly towards the ends thereof as shown in Figure 4.

To the outer end of the shank 3 is secured an attachment head 5y which, in this instance, is substantially rectangular in cross section and is adapted to extend into a case 6 which has one end closed and the other end thereof open for receiving the brush and attachment head there- 40 in. The interior or chamber 'l of the case 6 is substantially rectangular in cross section and is of substantially the same cross sectional areaA throughout the length thereof, the width of the chamber 'l' being slightly greater than that of 45 the brush body 2 so as to permit said body to readily move into and out of the chamber. The height of chamber 'l is substantially'equal to the distance between the outer curved surface A2 of the body member 2 and the outer ends of the 50 bristles 4 so that when the brush is in the case y chamber, the outer curved surface of the body member will be maintained in contact with the wall of the chamber 'l by the bristles 4.

The attachment head 5 is provided with upper 55 and lower sides 9 and l0 respectively which extend in substantially longitudinal parallel relation with `each other and the distance between these sides'is substantially equal to orsllghtly less than that of4 the longer transverse axis of the chamber l. The shank 3 is preferably an arcuate member as' shown inFigure i and is so attached to the head 5 that, the upper surface 9 of the attachment head is normally maintained thereby in a plane above thatof the outer curved surface 2' of the body member 2 so that when the brush is mounted in the case chamber, the attachment head will be yieldingly urged by the co-action of the body member 2 and bristles t with the walls of the chamber toward the wall -df said chamber adjacent side t for. a purpose hereinafter described. The -other longitudinal side l@ of the attachment head is provided with an undercut portion extending from intermediate the ends of the head inwardly and' toward 'the inner end of the head 'to form an arcuate cam surface il which, when the brush is fully inserted into the case chamber, has the forward substantially 30 to the transverse plane of the end thereof substantially in alignment with the end of case t as shown in Figure 4., This cam il is preferably a concave surface arranged with the cord thereof extending at an acute angle of head extending through the longitudinal axis thereof. Said cam surface thus extends abruptly inwardly from the outer end of the case so that when head t is moved laterally of case t in the direction of cam i l, said cam will be brought into sliding engagement with the adjacent wall of.

`the chamber ll at the open end of the case and produce axial movement of said head and the brush l relative to the case t.

The opposite side surfaces as i3 and id of the attachment head 5 have the central portions thereof, that is, the portions substantially midway between the outer and inner ends of the head, spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the shorter transverse axis of the case chamber l. These sides i3 and it taper in opposite directions from these central portions thereof inwardly toward each other so that the sides i3 and it at the inner and outer ends of the head are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of said transverse axis of chamber ll. lit will now be readily understood that the attachment head 5 is adapted to have its ends interchangeably extended into the case i while p the intermediate portion of the sides I3 and ifi of saldhead will frictionally engage the` wall of the case chamber lA adjacent the open end thereof for releasably maintaining the head and the brush member l attached thereto connected with the case t.

It will now be observed that the attachment head 5 is a relatively short memberwhich is so related to the brush i' that' when said brush and head are mounted in the case 6, the head will project outwardly only a relatively shortI distance beyond the open end ofthe case and, therefore, does not provide a gripping surface to enable the user to obtain a firm hold thereupon sufficient to easily overcome the friction between the attachment head and case t and thereby enable the y brush to be withdrawn from the case. However,

in our novel construction, when it is desired to remove the brush from the case, this may be readily accomplished in the manner illustrated in Figure 6 by holding the case in the palm of the ,hand with the side 9 of the attachment head adjacent the thumb and then pressing withthe thumb upon the exposed surface 9 to move the acoger head out of frictional engagement with the case and provide an ample gripping surface by which said brush may be thereafter readily removed In order that the user may readily from the case. determine which side of the exposed surface of the attachment head 5 to engage with the thumb, we have provided the outer end portion of side 9 with a slight recess il which may be of contrasting color to that of said head.

it will now be apparent that the tension produced upon the brush l when the head 5 is moved into the case chamber l', due to the odset relation of the head with the brush, will yieldingly maintain the cam ll out of engagement with the case 5 and thereby prevent to a degree the head and brush being accidentally removed yfrom the case.

. Although the device shown and described is "particularly simple in construction and operation, we do not wish to be limited vto the exact construction shown as it is obvious that various changes may be made in the form and relation of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A'toilet article comprising an implement, a hollow holder having an open end adapted to receive the implement therein, an attachment head connected with the implement adapted to extend into said holder in frictional engagement 'therewith and with the outer end thereof projecting a relatively short distance beyond said open end, said attachment head having a cam surface normally positioned out of engagement with the holder and adapted to slidably contact with the holder upon relative-lateral movement of the head and holder for producing outward axial movement of the head and implement relative to the holder.

2. A collapsible instrument ofl the class described comprising a toilet implement, an open ended case member for removably receiving the implement therein, and an attachment member connected with the implement and adapted to have its ends interchangeably and frictionally engaged in the open end of the case member, said attachment member being provided with an undercut portion extending from intermediate its ends inwardly and toward one of said ends to form a cam surface normally spaced from and aligned with said open end of the case when the attachment member is mounted in the case for sliding contact therewith to produce outward movement of the attachment member and implement upon relative lateral movement of said attachment member and case.

3. A collapsible instrument of the class described comprising a toilet implement, an open end case member for removably receiving the implement therein, and an attachment head for the implement adapted to extend into said case, said head and the interior of said case being substantially rectangular in cross section, said'head having a pair of substantially parallel Yopposed gage said open end, one -of said parallel sides of the head having a cam surface. extending longitudinally thereof out of engagement with the case and with one end of said surface arranged in registration with the open end of the case to slidably contact with the case at said open end upon relative lateral movement of the head and case for producing outward axial movement of the head and implement relative to the case.

4. A collapsible tooth brush comprising an elongated body member having an arcuate back surface and bristlesv extending outwardly from the opposite surface ther'eof, an attachment head connected with the body member, a hollow holder having an open end adapted to receive the body member and at least a portion of the attachment member therein, said `attachment member having a longitudinal surface normally4 tially equal to the cross sectional area of the body member and bristles for'engagement therewith whereby the attachment member will be urged in a direction to maintain said cam surface from contacting said end portion of the holder.

5. A collapsible tooth brush comprising a back r member, a substantially rectangular attachment head connected at one end therewith, and an open end case adapted to removably receive said member and head therein, the interior of said case at least adjacent said open end being substantially rectangular in cross section with the opposite sides thereof arranged substantially parallel with each other, said head having a pair of opposed sides tapered from the central portion inwardly toward-the ends thereof for -frictionally engaging corresponding side Walls of the case at the open 'end thereof, the other opposed sides of the head being substantially parallel and adapted to readily enter the open end of the case, one of said parallel sides being provided with an undercut portion extending from substantially the central portion of said side toward the back member to form a cam surface adapted to slidably contact with the case at said open end upon relative lateral movement of the head and case for producing outward axial movement of the head and back member relative to the case.

` KINGSLEY F. HORTON.

LYMAN F. HIGBEE. 

